Candy-setting machine.



G. B. NEVERS.

GANDY SETTING MAOHINE.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 29, 1910.

993,094, Patented May 23, 1911.

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G. B. NBVE'RSt CANDY SETTING MAUHINE.

APPLICATION 11mm AUG. 29, 1910 993,094. 9 PatentedMay 23,1911.

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G. B. NEVERS.

CANDY SETTING MACHINE. APPLICATION TILED AUG. 29, 1910.

Patented May 23, 1911.

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UNITE STATES PAEENT OFFICE.

GEORGE B. NEVERS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

CANDY-SETTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 29, 1910. Serial No. 579,494.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. NnvnRs,

a citizen of the United States of America,-

residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Candy-Setting Machine, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in candy-making machinery, and moreparticularly to candy-setting machines which are in the nature ofdriers, and consists generally of a rack, with which may be em ployedheating or cooling appliances, a certain peculiar elevator and operatingmechanism therefor, and tracks of suitable construction, together withsuch other parts and members as may be necessary or desirable to renderthe machine serviceable and complete, all as hereinafter set forth.

In the manufacture of many kinds of candy it is customary to pour thecandy while in a liquid state on to large slabs of marble, slate, orother hard and smooth material, and leave it to cool or dry and set orharden before being out up preparatory to finishing ready for themarket. In order to reduce the candy to the right consistency in asshort a time as possible and with the minimum amount of labor, theaforesaid slabs are very large in area, so as to obtain correspondinglylarge sheets of candy placed thereon to be exposed to the air and thusdried out, and these slabs, therefore, require a great deal of room,that is, floor-space, and

are handled with much ditliculty, although in less time than if theslabs were smaller and more numerous. Vith my machine these diilicultiesand disadvantages are overcome or removed, by the economy in floorspace,the saving in time and labor, and the general enhancement of thefacility with which the candy can be handled, incident to the use ofsuch machine, and this is the primary object of my invention.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

I attain these objects by the means and mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a horizontal section throughor a sectional top plan of a machine which embodies a practical form ofmy invention, such view being taken on lines 1-1, in Fig. 2, lookingdown, and the doors being open;

' Fig. 2, an end elevation of said machine, the

corresponding end of the rack casing being removed, also the adjacentdoor sections, and two positions of the elevator being indicatedrespectively in full and by dot-and-dash lines; Fig. 3, a frontelevation of the rack with the doors open, portions of the doors and ofthe casing at one end being broken away to disclose the interiorconstruction and certain of the parts; Fig. 4, a rear elevation of theelevator and its operating mechanism, the upper portions thereof beingomitted, and, Fig. 5, an enlarged transverse section through one of thetrucks.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The rack which I have herein shown comprises vertical angle-iron cornerpieces 2, and a plurality of horizontal angle-iron tracks 3 securedagainst the inner faces of said corner pieces at the ends of the rack.The tracks 3 are equi-distant from each other, and so arranged that anygiven track at one end is on the same horizontal plane with its mate atthe other end. The corner pieces may be secured at the top and bottom tosuitable supports, as the ceiling, roof or top and floor of a casing 4.The corner pieces 2 and the tracks 3 constitute bracket members whichtogether make up the rack.

The casing 4 is extended at the ends beyond the rack to form, withcertain shutters or dampers presently to be described, two verticalfines 5. The front of the casing 4 between the aforesaid bracket membersis open, and there are two upright parts 6 of said casing which projectforward at the ends of the opening. Two doors 7 are provided for saidopening. These doors may be of any suitable construction and arrangedrelative to the casing in any suitable manner, but as shown such doorsconsist of two leaves each arranged to slide at the bottom on a doubletrack 8, laid on the floor in front of the parts 6, and atlthe topbetween parallel tracks 9 and 10, said track 9 being attached to thefront edges of said parts 6 behind said doors, and said track 10 beingsupported in front of said doors by brackets 11-11 having their pointsof attachment at the top of the casing. The doors 7 operate in openingand closing in the same manner as any double-leaf doors.

As already mentioned, each flue 5 consists in part of or is providedwith a plurality of shutters or dampers 12, each arranged and adapted toclose the opening from said flue or the space between two of the tracks3, to close said flue above the upper of such tracks, or to deflect theair in said flue without closing either said space or flue. Each damper12 is pivotally mounted at the ends in the corner pieces 2, and has ahandle 13 accessible from the outside of the casing in front. Whenhanging freely from its pivotal points the damper closes the openingbetween the two adjacent tracks 3, when turned up into a horizontalposit-ion by means of its handle .13 said damper closes that part of theflue 5 in which it is located that is above the damper, and when turnedby said handle into any position between these extremes said damperdeflects the air as it enters or leaves the aforesaid opening but doesnot cut it off from said flue above. Dampers in these three positionsappear in Figs. 2 and 3. Frictional engagement between the ends of thedampers 12 and the contiguous parts of the corner pieces 2 may bedepended upon to retain said dampers inwhatever positions they may becaused to assume.

Supported on suitable blocks 14 on the floor of the casing 4, are twopipe coils 15 and 16, the former being for steam, hot

water, or other heating medium and connected with a suitable source ofsupply of the same (not shown), and the latter being for cold air orother cooling medium and connected with a suitable source of supply ofthat (not shown).

In thebottom of the casing 4, at one end and under the tracks 3 at thatend, is a fan 17 driven by a motor 18 on the same shaft 19 therewith, orin any other suitable manner. This fan when in motion creates a currentof air in the interior of the casing 4,, which current may be controlledto a greater or less extent by means of the dampers 12. A standard 20 onthe floor of the casing is provided to support the fan members.

Journaled in two floor bearings 21 and the same number of ceilingbearings 22 are two vertical screws 23. Carried by the screws 23 andadapted when they revolve to be raised or lowered thereby according tothe direction of rotation is an elevator 24. The ends of the elevator 24consist in part of two tracks 25 which are the same distance apart asare the oppositelydisposed tracks 3 of the rack; in. other words, thetracks 3 and 25 at either end of the machine are all in the samevertical plane longitudinally, so that by moving said elevator in theproper direction and to the required extent said tracks 25 can bebrought into exact aline ment with any pair of said tracks 3. Ad-

jacent ends of the tracks 3 and 25 are equipped with sockets 26 capableof receiving angle-iron bridge-track pieces or trackclosers 2727 and ofsupporting such pieces or track-closers'in abutting relation to saidnaled in said bearings and in other floor bearings 31 and 32, twopulleys 33 and 34 loose on said shaft and respectively provided withclutch members 35 and 36, a belt 37 for the pulley 33 and a crossed belt38 for the pulley 34, said belts being driven from pulleys on a main orcountershaft (not shown), and a clutch 39 of any approved type slidinglymounted on but non-revolubly connected with said shaft between saidclutch members. When the clutch 39 is actuated into engagement with theclutch member 35 the pulley 33, operating through the shaft 30 and thebevel-gears 29 and 28, causes the screws 23 to be rotated in such a wayas to lower the elevator 24, and when said clutch is actuated intoengagement with '8 the clutch member 36 the pulley 34, also opcratingthrough said. shaft and bevel-gears,

causes said screws to be rotated in the opposite direction and saidelevator to be raised thereby.

The operating mechanism for the clutch 39 consists of a rock-shaft 40 infloor bearings 4141 and carrying a yoke 42 at its front end and an arm43 at its rear end, said yoke being connected with said clutch in the iiusual manner, a counterweighted vertical rod 44 supported forlongitudinal movement in two sockets 45 one secured to the floor and theother to the ceiling, a rigid arm 46 extending outward from said rod inthe direction of said clutch and parallel with the shaft 30, aconnecting-rod or link 47 pivoted at its upper end to said arm 46 and atits lower end to said arm 43, and a plurality of adjustable dogs 48. Thecounterweight, for the clutch-operating rod 44, is represented at 49,and is connected with a collar 50 on said rod by means of a rope 51which passes over two idlers 52 mounted in hangers 5353 supported fromthe ceiling. This counterweight serves to retain the rod 44 in whateverposition it may be left after being moved up or down in the sockets 45.The arm 46 may be adjusted on the rod 44, for the purpose of impartingthe proper amount of throw to the clutch 39 when said rod is raised orlowered, by means of a bolt 54 tapped into the hub end of said arm andextending through into engagement with said rod.

It will now be seen that, when the rod 44 is moved downward fromstopping position, the clutch 39 is actuated from the intermediate orneutral position into engagement with the clutch mechanism 35, throughthe medium of the arm 46, the link 47, the arm 43, the rock-shaft 40,and the yoke 42, and, when said rod is moved upward from stoppingposition, said clutch is actuated from said neutral position intoengagement with the clutch member 36, by the same means, the elevator 24descending in the first instance and ascending in the second instance.It will be seen, also, that the elevator is stopped, regardless of thedirection in which it is travelin as soon as the rod 44 is moved in thedirectlon to throw the clutch out of engagement with either clutchmember and into its neutral position.

There are twelve tiers in the rack, a number which may vary in differentmachines, however, and there are as many dogs 48 as tiers. These dogsare normally held against movement longitudinally on the rod 44,although they may be vertically adjusted thereon, by means of collars 48also on said rod and bolts 55 tapped through said collars intoengagement with said rod. The dogs 48 are thus placed so that theelevator 24 can be stopped at any desired height and with the tracks 25in exact alinement with any pair of tracks 3, by a simple readjustmentabout its axis of the controlling dog. \Vhen operatively set, the dog isturned on its collar 48 and the rod 44 so as to locate the nose of saiddog in the path of travel of a lug 56 at the adjacent end of theelevator 24; at other times said dog is swung out of the way of suchlug.

A number of cars or trucks 57 are furnished as essential elements of,this machine, there being generally a truck for each tier, although butthree are illustrated herewith. Each truck 57 is mounted on flangedwheels 58 adapted to run on the track members 25, 27 and 3, and is of asize which renders it receivable on orin the rack within the easing 4.Said truck carries a hard fiat slab 59, and four removable edge rails 60are provided to set on said slab just inside of the sides and ends ofthe truck, which sides and ends project slightly above the upper surfaceof the slab to afford backings for said rails.

Having described in detail the construction of my machine, I will nextproceed to explain in full the operation of the same, assuming thatthere is a truck 57 on the elevator 24, and that said elevator islocated at a convenient height for pouringcandy onto the slab 59 carriedby said truck. Edge rails 60 are first placed in position and the candyin a liquid or melted state is poured into the shallow receptacle,formed by the slab 59 and said rails, until such receptacle is full. Nowthe dog 48, which is opposite the tier where it is desired to place thetruck, is swung into operative position, and the rod 44 is moved by handin whichever direction is required in order to cause the elevator totravel up or down as may be necessary to bring the truck opposite saidtier. When the elevator lug 56 encounters said lastmentioned dog, saidlug carries said dog and the rod 44 with it, and so brings about thedisconnection of the clutch 39 from the clutch member with which it isengaged. The elevator stops, the track-closers 27 are inserted in thealining sockets 26, and the truck with its load is pushed onto or intothe rack, the wheels 58 rolling from the tracks 25, over saidtrack-closers, onto the contiguous tracks 3. In Figs. 1 and 4 and infull lines in Fig. .Qytllfi parts are shown in the positions justdescribed, but before the truck is rolled into the rack, the contact between the lugs 56 and the active dog 48 showing plainly in Figs. 1 and4. Next the track-closers 27 are taken .from their sockets, a dog 48,that is opposite a tier containing a truck upon which the candy is readyfor removal, is adjusted in the path of the lug 56, and the elevatorsent up or down to meet said dog with said lug and so be brought to restdirectly in front of said tier, as represented by dot-and-dash lines, inFig. 2. The track-closers are then put in place, the truck is run outonto the elevator, and the latter is caused to carry said truck to aposition where the candy thereon can be removed without inconvenience.If any dog is in the way of the lug 56, it must be swung aside beforemanually operating the rod 44 to start the elevator the second time. Asa rule, before removing the candy. the edge rails 60 which surround itare taken away, and the large sheet of candy is cut into smaller sheets.After the removal of the aforesaid sheet of candy, the rails 60 arereplaced, more candy is poured onto the slab 59, and the supportingtruck is stored in the rack like the first. These operations may berepeated until the rack is full, at which time or whenever the desiredamount of candy less than the full capacity of said rack has beenstored, the doors 7 are closed and. the candy is left to set, eitherwith or without the aid of either heated or chilled air. After beingleft long enough to become of the right consistency, the doors areopened, and the trucks are taken out one after another, relieved oftheir load of candy, reloaded, and returned to the drying chamber again.I

If either coil 15 or 16 is to be employed to heat or cool the air in thecasing 4, the dampers 12 are adjusted so as to direct the air in saidcasing to the best advantage in and around the trucks and over theexposed upper surfaces of the candy thereon.

The fan 17 is generally set in motion &

Whenever either of the coils is used, and may be set in motion when theair in the casing 4 at normal temperature is to be depended upon, tocreate a circulation through the fines 5, in the bottom and top of thecasing, and between the trucks and their loads. Cooperation between thefan, when used, and the dampers is important.

It is quite obvious that either or both of the coils 15 and 16 and thefan 17 can be omitted, and even the doors 5 and the casing itself,without seriously impairing the utility of my invention or materiallyreducing its efliciency for some if not many kinds of candy; It is quiteobvious, moreover, that numerous changes in the shape, size,arrangement, and construction of some or all of the parts and members ofthis machine may be made without departing from the nature of myinvention or exceeding the scope of my claims.

The active or operative dog 48, for the elevator 24 in its. higherposition as indicated by dot-and-dash lines, in Fig. 2, appears in fulland as having just stopped said elevator in its ascent; the active oroperative dog second below (shown-in Figs. 1 and 4) has just stopped theelevator in its descent.

In positioning the dogs 48, it is necessary, of course, to take intoconsideration the amount of movement imparted by hand to the rod 44 tostart the elevator.

To start the elevator the rod 44 is actuated in the opposite directionto that which said elevator takes when started, but in stopping theelevator carries said rod in the same direction with it, the amount ofmovement of the rod being the same in both cases.

By the term track or tracks I mean to include any suitable slide-way orslideways for the trucks.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in a candy-setting machine, of a rack comprising aplurality of corner pieces and a plurality of horizontal track-formingmembers attached to said corner pieces and with such pieces constitutingthe ends of said rack, an elevator adjacent to such rack and providedwith tracks adapted to be brought into line with any pair of said racktrack-forming members, and a plurality of trucks receivable in said rackand also receivable one at a time on said elevator, such trucks beingprovided with means to support candy in sheet formation.

2. The combination, in a candy-setting machine, of a rack provided withtracks at different elevations, a trackprovided elevator operativelyarranged in front of said rack with a space between, operating mechanismfor such elevator whereby the latter may be stopped with its tracks inalinement with any pair of said first-mentioned tracks, removabletrack-closers for such alining tracks, such track-closers beingsupported bridging the gaps between adjacent ends of said alining tracksand connecting said ends, and a truck adapted to travel on any of saidtracks and over said track-closers.

3. The combination, in a candy-setting machine, of a track-providedrack, a trackprovided elevator adjacent to said rack, operatingmechanism for such elevator capable of locating the same opposite anytier in said rack, trucks arranged to travel on the rack and elevatortracks and receivable in said rack, and candy-receiving slabs carried bysaid trucks.

4. The combination, in a candy-setting machine, of a track-providedrack, a trackprovided elevator adjacent to said. rack, operatingmechanism for such elevator capable of locating the same opposite anytier in said rack, trucks arranged to travel on the rack and elevatortracks and receivable in said rack, candy-receiving slabs carried bysaid trucks and removable candy-confining edge members on such'slabs.

5. The combination, in a candy-setting machine, with an inclosedtrack-provided rack, dampers arranged in such inclosed rack at the endsthereof to regulate the flow of air therein, and heat-ing and coolingpipes in the bottom of such inclosed rack, of a traclcprovided elevatorin operative relation to said rack, and trucks adapted to run on therack and elevator tracks and receivable in said rack, such trucks beingprovided with means to support candy in sheet formation.

6. The combination, in a candy-setting machine, with an inclosedtrack-provided rack, dampers arranged in such inclosed rack at the endsthereof to regulate thefiow of air therein, heating and cooling pipes inthe bottom of such inclosed rack, and an agitator also in the bottom ofsuch inclosed rack for the air therein, of a track-provided elevator inoperative relation to said rack, and trucks to run on the rack andelevator tracks and receivable in such rack, such trucks being providedwith means to support candy in sheet formation.

GEORGE -B. NEVERS.

-l/Vitnesses F. A. CUTTER, A. C. FAIRBANKS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

by the rack. and elevator and capable of

